Islamabad, Oct 30 : Former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif would come back to the country after the Supreme Court’s verdicts on petitions challenging President General Pervez Musharraf’s eligibility as a presidential candidate and a contempt of court case against the Pakistan Government for deporting Sharif to Jeddah on September 10, a leader of Sharif’s party has claimed. 

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders, who were gathered at a funeral procession, said their party didn’t see any immediate benefit from Sharif’s return.

“The PML-N is sure that the apex court will rule in Sharif’s favour in the contempt of court case against the government regarding his deportation to Saudi Arabia,” said a PML-N leader.

“The former Prime Minister will move to London after the apex court verdict, and the party will announce the date of his arrival in Pakistan after consultations with him. He will probably be back in the second half of November,” he added.

According to sources, the PML-N leadership in Pakistan was mulling over holding a press conference to announce the date of Sharif’s return.

“It (Sharif’s return) will infuse a new spirit in the party for long-term gains,” the Daily Times quoted one of the leader, as saying.

Commenting on the controversy surrounding the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), a senior leader of PML-N said that it has drawn clear lines between the NRO’s beneficiaries and those who are forcibly being kept out of politics.

Besides neutralising the Pakistan People’s Party in the Punjab Province, Sharif’s arrival would give “some credibility” to the polls, they opined.

“Maybe the powers that be have also realised that it was wrong to put all their eggs in the PPP’s basket,” said another PML-N leader. (ANI)